BREAKING: Miami lands commitment from local top-150 DB Bryce Fitzgerald
Miami (Fla.) Columbus four-star safety Bryce Fitzgerald, the No. 101 overall prospect in the On300 and No. 8 safety in the 2025 class, is staying home.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound safety committed to Miami Saturday over Florida, Florida State and LSU after visiting all four programs this summer. There was once plenty of buzz around each individual school, but Fitzgerald, who has maintained strong relationships with the Hurricanes’ staff for the last two years, ultimately decided to remain in South Florida Saturday.
Fitzgerald’s pledge gives Miami 22 commits in the 2025 cycle and keeps the Hurricanes in the mix for a third-straight top-10 class in the 2025 cycle (and possibly second-straight top-five class if Miami can flip one or two five-star prospects like DJ Pickett down the line). Fitzgerald was last on campus for the Hurricanes’ end-of-summer recruiting cookout in late July, but the Hurricanes haven’t always had a clear lead for the four-star prospect over the last few months.
There was buzz around Florida earlier this summer, and Florida State appeared to be in a strong position in early August. Fitzgerald said Florida State and LSU, who also remained a contender despite being an out-of-state school, were making the most aggressive pushes for him earlier this month, but Miami ultimately won out.
Fitzgerald visited Miami’s campus this spring and made two trips to Coral Gables this summer, including one for an official visit. He regularly discussed his interest in staying in Florida for college throughout his recruitment.
Fitzgerald’s commitment marks the second straight year Miami has landed a player from Columbus, a local historic powerhouse and a program the Hurricanes have particularly strong ties to. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal is a Columbus alum, and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal spent time as an assistant coach on the Explorers’ staff early in his career. Both were involved in his recruitment and consistently discussed the ties between Columbus and The U, although secondary coach Chevis Jackson served as his primary recruiter.
Fitzgerald is expected to be a summer enrollee. He’ll compete for a second-straight state championship in football this fall, play basketball this winter and run track next spring.
CaneSport’s Take
Fitzgerald is more of a broader defensive back than a true safety, which gives Miami plenty of different potential uses for him in its secondary. The Hurricanes made it a priority to load up on blue-chip defensive backs in the class, and adding Fitzgerald helps in a major way.
